Henry price ball



(No Model.)

H. P. BALL. SNAP SWITCH.

No. 461,560. Patented Oct. 20, 1891.

Witwe/ooe@ @ww/nto@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY PRICE BALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE EDISON GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SNAP-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,560, dated October 20, 1891.

Application filed March 2. 1891. Serial No. 383,349. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY PRICE BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county and State of New York, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Snap-Switches, of which the following is a specification. v

The present invention relates to switches adapted to make and break the circuits in which they are placed, the break being accomplished by a sudden or snap movement for the purpose of reducing sparking and consequent injury to the contacts; and the invention consists in the improved switch and in the several combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is a side view ofthe switch; and Fig. 2 isa cross-section on the line :I: fr, looking in the direction of the arrow.

l is a base, of slate or other insulating material, on which are mounted two terminals 2 lever 3, to which the circuit-wires may be connected. The terminal 2 is provided with two standards or lugs 4, to which is pivoted the switch-arm '5. The terminal 3 is provided with two springs 6 6, forming a spring-clip for the reception of the tree end of the arm or The end of said arm is provided with a projection or hook 7. On the top ot arm 5 is a plate-spring 8, secured to the arm at the pivoted end by screws 9 The free end of this spring carries a hook lO, extending a considerable distance below the hook 7. The hooks 7' and 10 constitute a means for locking lthe spring and lever together after the former has been moved a certain distance, so that movement ot the lever is not dependent entirely on the tension of the spring. To the spring is also' connected a handle l1. It will be seen that the spring is movable independently of the pivoted lever until hooks 7 and lO come together.

IVhen it is desired to break the circuit through the switch, the handle ll is grasped and raised, the first effect being to bend the spring, as indicated Vby the dotted-line position, putting it under ,tension until the hook 10 engages with the hook 7. As Ihe handle is moved still farther the arm 5 is positively moved until it is partially withdrawn from the spring-clip, when the tension ot' the spring 8 is suicient to suddenly complete the breakage of the circuit.

This switch is very simple and easy to construct and provides efficient means for breaking circuits suddenly, as above described.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. Thecombination, in a switch, of a circuit-terminal, a lever or arm pivoted thereto, a second terminal in the path of said lever, a plate-spring parallel with the lever and conneoted to said lever near its pivot, and aliandle on the spring for operating the switch, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a switch, of circuitterminals, a switch-lever adapted to connect and disconnect the same, a spring connected to the lever and to a suitable handle, and a positive lock or engaging device between the spring and lever, and which is brought into operation by a partial Inovement of the handle, substantially as described.

The combination, in a switch, ot' two circuit-terminals, a lever pivoted to one terminal and adapted to move toward or from the other terminal, said lever having a hook or projection at its free end, a spring having a corresponding device to engage with said hook or projection and movable independentlyof the lever,and a handle, substantially as described. This specification signed and witnessed this 25th day of February, 1891.

' HENRY PRICE BALL.

-Witnessess W. S. ANDREWS, JOHN MCGHIE. 

